Which Fitbit wearables have fall detection features?

Fall detection is an essential feature for elderly and vulnerable smartwatch users. Present on several new wearables, fall detection alerts an emergency contact if the device detects a hard fall and the lack of movement afterward. Devices like the Apple Watch have had fall detection since 2018, but do Fitbit devices have fall detection or an equivalent emergency feature? Read about Fitbit’s fall detection features in detail below.

Does Fitbit have fall detection?

On devices like the Apple Watch, fall detection uses the device’s accelerometer to monitor whether a user experiences a hard fall and whether they can move afterward. After a minute or so, the device will contact a third party with emergency details.

Fitbits are great for those seeking sleep tracking accuracy and ease of use, but the company’s devices fall short on some safety features. This includes fall detection. None of Fitbit’s devices, not even the flagship Sense series, feature any fall detection or an equivalent safety feature.

If you want a device that includes Fitbit flavor and fall detection, your only alternatives are the two Google Pixel Watches. Although not true Fitbits, the Pixel Watch ($329 at Amazon) and Pixel Watch 2 ($349.99 at Amazon) lean heavily on the established Fitbit fitness and health-tracking features.

Considering Google’s stripping of features from Fitbit devices, it’s unlikely that we’ll see fall detection coming to the Sense or Versa lines in the future.

Fitbit alternatives with fall detection

If you’re looking for a smartwatch with fall detection functionality, you should look beyond the Fitbit stable. Most of the best Fitbit alternatives include some fall detection or alert feature, including the Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung), Apple Watch Series 9 ($392.67 at Amazon), and Garmin Venu 3 ($449.99 at Amazon).

If you’re on a budget, the Apple Watch SE (2022) ($269.99 at Amazon) is a good choice, while runners and outdoor users can opt for the Garmin Forerunner 165 ($249.99 at Garmin) for Garmin’s incident detection smarts during training sessions.

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